A positive result indicates that virus was present in the specimen submitted. Clinical correlation is necessary to determine the significance of this finding.

Influenza virus infection is a state-mandated reportable disease.

Negative results may be seen in a number of situations including absence of viral disease, inability of the virus to grow in culture (examples of organisms not detected by culture include Epstein-Barr virus, rubella virus, and papilloma virus), and nonviable organisms submitted. Parainfluenza virus type 4 may also not be detected by viral culture.